As students return from the stress free days of summer by the pool with friends, and go back to the days of 8 a.m. classes, exams, and essays upon essays, it can be really easy to get frustrated and stressed out. It is normal to feel like you are not doing your best, even if you are doing all the work for the class, you feel as there is always more assignment you can do. If your workload starts to become overwhelming, here are six tips of how you can take a break, and return to your work refreshed and better than ever.
1. Read a Book
I know it probably seems like you have enough reading assignments to last you the entire semester from all of your different classes, but if you read something you are actually interested in with a plot line, and not just a bunch of facts, you can get immersed in the world of your book and forget all about your problems for a little bit.
2. Get Exercise
Now for some people, I know this idea is almost as far stretched as reading for fun. I was with you, I was the kid that if you asked to run a mile in gym class, I would complain the entire time. However, my college recreation center has a fully equipped gym, so I can excise on the machines at my own pace and not feel the pressure of my peers. Also, my recreation center offers group exercise classes from yoga to Zumba to strength classes. With there being so many new options, I have gotten to try different forms of excretes that I actually enjoy doing. If you find the right exercise for you, when you finish, all of that stress that you previously had will be gone.
3. Call Home
This is one is for my fellow students that dorm. If you are feeling stressed, call your parents, or your best friend from home, or FaceTime your dogs (I've done this several times already). I know you want everything to seem like its going great at school, but these are the people that know you the best and will be there to support you through this process. Most likely, they will be ecstatic that you called.
4. Color
The fun activities you used to do when you were a kid are still fun as a young adult! Go back to your more or less stress free childhood and color just like you used to. Especially with those new adult coloring books, the difficulty level and concentration have increased, but the same calming effect is still there!
5. Listen to Music
Whether you are listening to music while you work, or take a break to catch up on your favorite artist's latest album, music is a great way to make yourself feel better.
6. Hang out with Friends
Most likely your friends are going through the same college perils as you, so they know exactly where you are coming from.
I know that when you are stressed, the last thing you want to do is take a break as you just want to finish your work. However, after calming down, you will be more productive, because you feel better, and the finished project will turn out better than ever.
